Blind stitching means



1 1949' 'S.I.J. BIRGINAL r 2,470,286

- BLIND STITCHING MEANS Filed April 24, 1946 I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w y 7,1949. s. J. B IRGINAL 2,470,286

BLIND STI TCHING MEANS Filed April 24, 1946 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMay 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLIND STITCHING MEANS SylvesterJ. Birginal, Chicago, 111.

Application April 24, 1946, Serial No. 664,661

This invention relates to a blind stitching apparatus and moreparticularly to an attachment for a conventional sewing machine adaptedto make it convertible into a blind hemmer or back to conventional usewith the minimum of effort or trouble.

This invention is an improvement on the structure shown and claimed inmy copending application for a blind stitchin apparatus heretofore filedon. July 8, 1944, as Serial No. 544,051.

One feature of the structure shown in this and in the aforesaidcopending application is that it provides improved blind stitchingapparatus. Another feature is that the apparatus embodying thisinvention may be used in blind sewin work of flat or small or largetubular design on a conventional sewing machine without the need of atubular knee, a special bed, or the like. Still another feature is thatit includes means for precisely adjusting the position of the meansguiding the material being sewed, this adjustment being with respect tothe path of the needle of the sewing machine and enabling proper blindstitching of materials of widely varying thicknesses.

Yet another feature is that the adjusting means includes motion-reducingconnections and calibrated indicating means facilitating setting of theapparatus for the material to be blind stitched.

The present invention has, in addition to the into a non-operatingposition wherein the guide member is flush with the throat plate of themachine. Yet another feature of the present invention is that itprovides a snap-action locking of the guide member in either theoperating or non-operating position. Another feature of this inventionis that the manual actuating means for precisely adjusting the guidemember is located on the throat plate on the opposite side of the needlewith respect to the guide member. A further feature is that the blindstitching apparatus is contained within the periphery of a throat plateof conventional size and shape.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the head and a portion of thebottom of a sewing machine including blind stitching apparatus embodyingmy invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlar ed detailed view of aportion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figures 3, 4 and 5 areillustrative of material during and after blind stitching of a hemtherein, Figure 3 being a sec- 10 Claims. (Cl. 112140) tional View ofthe material immediately after the stitch has been made therein, Figure4 being a similar sectional View of the material unfolded into the shapeinto which it is worn and Figure 5 being a fragmentary view of thesurface of the material indicating the path of the stitching; Figure 6is a plan view of the throat plate and a portion of a bed of a sewingmachine together with blind stitching apparatus embodyin my invention,as illustrated in Figure 1; Figure '7 is a sectional view along the line'l-1 of Figure 6, the inoperative position of the guide member alonebeing shown in dotted lines; Figure 8 is a View partly in section of theunderside of the throat plate of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a view, partly insection, along line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a sectional view alongline |ll-l0 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a view partly in section along line Illl of Figure 12;Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the presser foot and guidingarm for blind stitching.

The value and need for blind stitching in sewing articles such as thebottoms of mens trousers and the heme of womens skirts is well known. Ihave invented a blind stitching apparatus embodied in a throat plate ofconventional shape which can be attached to the ordinary sewing machineby merely removing a few screws therefrom and replacing the throat platewith which the machine was originally supplied, with the throat plateembodying my invention.

The arrangement is such that the guiding means for guiding the path ofthe material closely adjacent the path of the needle can be swung intooperating position for blind stitching, and it is held in that positionby action of a snap look. When it is desired to use the machine forconventional sewing, the guiding member can be swung to a non-operatingposition wherein it i held flush with the throat plate and presents noprojections to catch on or interfere with the passage of material beinstitched; and the spring-urged presser shoe can be swung up out of theway, so that no parts need be removed from the machine. The presser footwhich is used in conjunction with the guiding member has two positions,one for blind stitching and one for conventional sewing, and is equippedwith a springurged guiding arm to press the material being stitchedagainst the guiding member.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated herein, aconventional sewingmachine is partially illustrated. Referring moreparticularly to Figure 1, this comprises a metal bed 20 mounted upon a.wooden base or table arrangechronism with the needle reciprocation.These toothed members will for the most part not be further describedhere, it being understood that my blind stitching attachment maybeiused' one the conventional sewing machine so long as longer dogs areassociated with it.

As may be best seen in Figuresfi-lO, the throat:

plate is of conventional shape and is provided with a throat hole oropening 26 in which the needle is reciprocable. On the underside of thethroat plate; as' best seen in Figure. 8, is-the: mounting plate ormountingmember heretiden-rtified: as 2'l'.- The mounting member issli'dab'le longitudinally (that is, in a direction.perpendicular'to'thedirection-of movement of the: needle) in .1 slots 28;-beingguidedin said slots by .screwmem brsfifi attachedto the'undersideof the throat plate and projecting "through and engaging-thew slots 28.Longitudinal movementof the mount ing mem-beriis :achievedathrouglrthelever 30; this lever being pivotally mounted to the throat'plate at:r3l,and pivoted to lever member 32 at-33 asshown. Lever member 32-i'spivoted to the throat plate at 34 and'pivotally attached to the mountingmember at 2 35 as shown. It 'can' be seenthalt moving'lever member 30 ina c1ockwise'or.counter-= clockwisedirection'serves through the levermembers 'just described to move the mounting mem ber longitudinally inslots28. Le'vermemberfl protrudes through slot 36 tothe upper side ofthe throat plate and terminates in a pointer'3'labove theindicatingscale 38on the righthand' side' of the'throat plate; asviewed'in'Figure' 6.

As seen 'in Figure '7, the'mounting member 21" has at its left hand side'a downwardly projecting portion 39' terminating in a shoulder 40. Acy-j lindrical collar 4! is fixed-on the shoulderfld'as' shownyand isprovided with a hole aligned with a hole of similar size in'the shoulder40 to receive the' pivot'42. Pivot 42 is rotatablymounted'in' andprojects through the holes just mentioned to' a point some distancebelow-the shoulder40, terminating in a threaded end 43'on whioh'nut'M isscrewed. A compression "spring 45 is inter posed between nut 44' andshoulder '40 toLc0n'-" stantly exert a downward pressure on thepivott:421- Fixed to the upper end of' pivot 42 "isthe. guiding member of thegenera-lshape as shown '60 needle 24 when" the guidingmember'is in thein Figure 6, and the guiding member is provided. with'a slot 4'! adaptedvto be aligned with the operative position shown by the solid lines ofFigure 6. The. collar 4| has. a diagonally cut-.1

awayportion 48 to actas a cam, upon which cam.-

the pin 49 (which is'integral with the pivot 42)" rid-es. Thearrangement is such thatwhen the. guide member 46- is in" the operatingposition shown by the solid lines in Fi-gures'fi and 7,'the pin 49is inthe position shown in Figure 9, that is, at the upper portion of cam 48;and is held'in'" that-position in a slightly-downwardly inclined portionof thecamby'the tension of the spring 45-. (the*downwardly inclinedportion, the pin and thespring cooperate to form a snap action lock)and?the guide -member is spaced' above the-throat these portions plate,as shown, and positively held against rotation when the material passesalong its guiding edge during sewing. Rotating the guide memberapproximately 180 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, willcause the pin 49 to ride down the diagonal cam portion 48 lowering theguide member until the pin is in the position shown at the left handside of Figure 10. At that time the guide member will be in thenonoperating position wherein/it is in theisameplane, that is flush withthe throat plate 25 (this position being illustrated by the dotted linesin Figures 6 and '7), and held in that position by the tensionrofwthespring. The portion of the guide member around the pivot 42, when swungto the non-'operating-position just described, fits into a cut-awayportion-.50: of the throat plate. While in the operating position, thematerial guidingedge "5|"of'the guide member can be precisely adjustedtowards or way from the needle by the actuation of leveri-3fl', :the"guide :member being held against. movement. 'in a direction parallelto": the path'of'movement of thetneedle'xby'pivot4252i Inconjunctionwith my inventionas herein dis-" closed, I prefer-to use a specialpresser foot; Asa this presser foot is fully described in my copend "ving' application heretofore referred to,":it will be but'brieflydescribed hereinyas 'comprisingian or-' I dinary presser foot 53':-'(=Figuresl-l'and 1'2) and a 1 vertical shank-portion 54 mountable onthe presser fo'ot supportingmembe'nSS in two'spaced posi tions;

A mounting'bracke't 56i's rotatablymounted on shaftSTj'and a guiding arm5'8is pivotally mount-- ed on" the mounting bracket asshown;

Torsion spring 59 *urges the guidingarm'and the pressuresho'e'tllagainst theedge of the material being sewed;--' the torsion-springproviding"- greatflexibility; thus freelypermitting smooth passage'ofseams, and shaft 51 provides means of swinging the" guidirigzarm'approximately about the axis thereby'provided to a compact; out". of theway;;non=operatingposition when .it is desired to do conventionalsewing:

The way in which" myattachnoent facilitates blind" stitching; .and.moreparticularly blind hemming; (Willib best understood" from a considera-.tion of Figures 2-5 inclusive." In loading the ma-. chine for blindstitching, the material is folded intoa double Lfold asshown'in FiguresZand '3 and; with the'guide member in inoperative position', the foldedmaterial'is placed under the lifted. presser 'foot so' that the portion63 .is directly. under the needle, andnthe. presser foot is then.droppeddown toexertpressure on the material and: hold it in .place. Withthe. material lying thus and held'by the presser foot, the horizontal.pivotal action of the guide memberwprovides a very convenient .andeasymethod of inserting the. guide means into thenf old between. layers 62and '64f'so that .its material guidingledge ,5l .is against 2 theportion 63 of the'fold, merely'by a swinging movement of the member;Referring: first to Figure 2, it .will be seen that the material to behem-med; as "the bottom. of'a trouser leg, here identified asifil; has'aportion" 62 overlying the guide memberflfi'and a portion :63" bentaround the guiding edge 5 I "of the" guide member, a portion 64'extending back to "the'left under the guide member, "anothercurved 'or"folded portion 65" which is to become'the" bottom'of the garment, and astraight portiontfifiextending. back .under th'eportion. 64 and slightlyout beyond the needle,

:84 ands-6'6 lying ,on each other,:be.- tween thethroat plate 25and theguiding member 4-6. The material is so placed during this operation thatthe wrong side of the material faces upwardly in the part 62, downwardlyin the part 64, and upwardly again in the part '66. The guiding edge 5|of the guide member is preferably spaced from the center of the path ofmovement of the needle 24 by a distance equal to about one-half thethickness of the material so that during the sewing operation the needlepierces the middle of the folded end portion 63 in the manner shown andthen passes straight through the right hand end of the portion 66 of thematerial. The fold 6 3 of the material is held in proper relation to theguiding edge 5| of the guide member 46 by the arcuate surface of thepressure shoe 60.

As the material is moved beyond the stitching point it appearssubstantially as illustrated in Figure 3, the parts of the materialbeing stitched together by the thread 61. When the hem has been finishedand the fold or bend 63 is straightened out, the material appears asshown in Figure 4 in cross-section and Figure 5 in elevation, thestitching being shown in dotted lines because it is not visible throughthe right side of the material.

Whil I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a reciprocal needle, apparatus of thecharacter described rendering the machine readily convertible for blindstitching or conventional stitching, including: a throat plate forreplacing the throat plate of the machine; a guide member insertableinto a fold of the cloth to guide said fold while it is being stitched,and adapted to have the material guiding edge closely adjacent the pathof movement of the needle; a mounting member having the guide memberpivotally mounted thereon, the mounting member being movable in a planeperpendicular to the direction of movement of the needle; and actuatingmeans for moving the mounting member to adjust the position of theguiding edge of the guide member with respect to the path of movement ofthe needle, the actuating means including a manually movable actuatingmember and a motion reducing actuating connection between said actuatingmember and the mounting member, said guide member, said mounting memberand at least the major portion of said actuating means being containedwithin the periphery of the throat plate.

2. In a sewing machine having a reciprocal needle, blind stitchingapparatus of the character described, including a throat plate ofconventional size and shape: a guide member insertable into a fold ofthe cloth to guide said iold while it is being stitched and adapted tohave a material guiding edge closely adjacent the path of movement ofthe needle; a mounting member mounted on said plate and having the guidemember pivotally mounted thereon, the mountin member being movable in aplane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the needle; andactuating means for moving th mounting member to adjust precisely theposition of the guiding edge of the guide member with respect to thepath of movement of the needle, the actuating means including a manuallymovable actuating member positioned on the opposite side of the need-1efrom the said guide member and mounting member, and a motion reducingactuating connection between said actuating member and the mountingmember.

3. Apparatus of the character described, rendering a sewing machinereadily convertible for blind stitch-ing or conventional stitching,including: a throat plate of conventional size and shape having a holeadapted to receive the end of the reciprocal needle of -a sewingmachine; a guide member having an operating and a non-operatingposition; a mounting member attached to said throat plate and beingmovabl in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of theneedle and having the guide member pivotally mounted thereon said pivotextending through a cut-away portion in the throat plate, the mountingbeing such that said guide member is adapted while in the operatingposition to be spaced above the throat plate and to have a materialguiding edge closely adjacent the path of the needle and is adaptedwhile in a non-operating position to be received in said cut-awayportion wherein it is flush with the throat plate.

Apparatus of the character described, rendering a sewing machine readilyconvertible for blind stitching or conventional stitching, including: athroat plate having a hole adapted to receive the end of the reciprocalneedle of a sewing machine; a guide member having an operating andnon-operating position; a mounting member attached to the under side ofthe throat plate and being movable in a plane perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the needle and having the guide memberpivotally mounted thereon about an axis parallel to the direction ofmovement of the needle said pivot extending through a cut-away portionin the throat plate, the mounting being such that said guide member isadapted while in the operating position to be spaced above the throatplate and to have a material guiding edge closely adjacent the path ofthe needle and is adapted to be pivoted about its axis approximately tothe non-operating position wherein it is received in said cut-awayportion and is flush with the throat plate.

5. Apparatus of the character described, rendering a sewing machinereadily convertible for blind stitching or conventional stitching,including: a throat plate of conventional size and shape having a holeadapted to receive the end of the reciprocal needle of a sewing machine;a guide member having an operating and a non-operating position andadapted to have a material guiding edge closely adjacent the path ofmovement of the needle; a mounting member attached to the under side ofthe throat plate and movable in a plane perpendicular to the directionof movement of the needle and having the guide member pivotally mountedthereon about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of theneedle, said pivot extending through a cut away portion of the throatplate the mounting being such that said guide member is adapted while inthe operating position to be spaced above the throat plate and to havethe material guiding edge closely adjacent the path of movement of theneedle and is adapted to be pivoted about its axis approximately 180 tothe non-operatin position wherein it is received'in said cut-awayportion; actuating means for moving the mounting member to adjustprecisely the position of the guiding edge of the guide member withrespect to the path of movement. of the needle; and means formainattaining; the guide imemberl in the; operatingigand non+operatingpositions ssaida :last named cmeans :including ;camrand springimeans.

. 6.':Apparatus oflrthexcharacter described for use in a sewing machinehaving a reciprocalzneedle *and azpresser .foot' supporting member'ior'renderiing.--,the.imachine readily'nconvertible for blind --stitching or:conventionallstitching, including: a :irthroat-platehaving"slotsrthereint-for feed means ::and a hole adapted to receive"the end of the :needle; a guidesmemberi adapted to have a mate- -rialguiding edge closelyadjacent the path of --movement of vthe'needle; amounting member -L'having the guide member pivotally mountedithereonabout an axis: parallel to, and spaced from the line of movementof the needle, said :guide member. being adapted tobe'pivoted about itsaxisto a. position spacedabove the throat plate sand: to "have aimaterial "guiding edge closely adjacentthe path of the :needle andadapted to :positions longitudinally of the line of stitch; a J

:guiding' arm pivotally mounted on said presser "foot and havingan endadapted'to lie in front of one end of the presser foot; spring means forurging said-end of the uiding arm toward said material guiding edge topress the material being sewed thereagainst; and 'feed'means operable inthe slots in 'said throat plate and of sufiicient length to effectproper feeding of the material sewed in either-position of thepresserfoot.

[Apparatus of the character described for use in a sewing machine havinga reciprocal needle and a presser foot supporting member-for renderingthe machine readily convertible for blind stitching orconventional-stitching, including: a throat plate having a hole adaptedto :receive the end of the reciprocal needle of a sewing machine; aguide member having an operating and a non-operating-position; amountingtmember movable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement ofthe-needle and having the guide member pivotally mounted thereon aboutan axis parallel to the direction of movement of the needle and-movableabout the pivot in a plane generally perpendicular. thereto, ,said pivotbeing providedwith means-ior spacing the guide member above'the throatplate while in the operating position wherein theguide means is adaptedto have ,atmaterial guiding edgeclosely adjacent. the path of the needleand ,-said means being adapted to maintain the guidemember in apositionfiush with the throat plate while said guide member is in thenon-operating position; a presser foot having means for connection to,said supportin wmember in two spaced positions longitudinally of theline of stitch; a'guiding arm pivotally mounted on said presser foot andhaving an end adapted to lie in front of one end of the presser foot;spring means for urgingvsaid :guidingwdge to press themateria'lrbeingpzsewcd .zthereagainst.

' V 8. :Apparatus oflthe character described for-rise in a sewingmachine having a reciprocalneedle and" a presser foot supporting.memberv for: rendering the machine' readily L convertible-ior5blindstitching t or conventional stitching, includingz a threat plateofconventional size and shapeh-av- :inga hole adapted to receive the endof'the-reciprocal needle of .a sewing machine; aiguide member havingarr-operating; and a non-operating position; a mounting memberattachedto said throat plate and being'movable in a planewperpen'dicular to thedirection of movement ofthe needle and having the guide member pivotallymounted thereon, said pivot extendingthrough a "cut-away portion in thethroat. plate, the mounting-being suchthatsaid guide member is adapted"while in the operating position to be spacedabove the throat plate-andto have a material guiding edgeclosely adjacentithe path of the needleand is adapted while in a non-operatingposition to be received in saidcut-away portion wherein it is flush with the throat plate; apresserfoothaving meansfor-connection to said-supporting member in twospaced positions longitudinally of the line of: stitch; a guiding armpivotally mounted onsaid .presserifoot and having an end adapted-try lie.in front of onevend of the presser foot; spring -means .for urging saidend ofthe guiding arm :toward said-material guiding edge topress'thematerial being sewed thereagainst.

9. Apparatus of the character described-*for use in a sewing machinehaving a reciprocal :needle and-a presser foot supporting member forrendering the machine readily convertible for ."blind stitching orconventional stitching, including: a throat plate of conventionalsizeand shape :having a, hole adapted to receive theend of the:reciprocalneedle of a sewing machine; a guide :member having anoperating and non-operating position; a mounting member attached to theunderside of'the throat plate and being movable in aplane perpendicularto the direction of='movement of the needle and having the guide memberpivotally mounted thereon about an axis parallel to the direction ofmovement of the needle,-s'aid pivot-extendingthrough a cut-away portionof-the throat plate; the mounting beingsuch that's'aid :guide member isadapted while in the operating position to be spaced above thethroatplate and to have a material guiding edge closely adjacent thepath of the needle and is adapted to be pivoted about its: axisapproximately '180" to the-"nonoperating position wherein it is receivedinsaid cut-away-portion and is fiush with the throat plate;a-presserfoot having means for connection to said supporting member intwo spaced positionsrlongitudinally of the line of stitch; a-guiding armpivotally mounted on said presser-foot and having an end adapted to liein front of one 'endof the presser 'foot; springmeans for urging saidend of the guiding arm toward said-material guiding edge to press thematerial being sewed thereagainst.

' 16. Apparatus of the character described for use in a sewingmachineha'ving a reciprocal needle and a presser foot supporting memberfor rendering-the machine readily convertible for blind "stitching orconventional stitching, includingz-a mounted on the underside ofsaidthroat plate and rend. .oistheiguidingi armstowardiesaid J material:movable ma plane perpendicular tothe-directicin of movement of theneedle; a guide member having an operating position wherein it isadapted to have a material guiding edge closely adjacent the path ofmovement of the needle, and having a non-operating position; a, pivothaving one end attached to the guide member and extending through acut-away portion in the throat plate and through an opening in a portionof the guide member; a compression spring interposed between the otherend of said pivot and the edges of said opening for constantly exertingthe downward tension on said pivot; a cylindrical collar attached tosaid portion having a cam surface; a pin integrally attached to saidpivot and adapted to ride on said cam surface, said cam and pivot beingso constructed and arranged so as to maintain the guide member in aposition spaced above the throat plate while in the operating position,and said guide member being adapted to be rotated approximately 180 fromthe operating position to the non-operating position, said rotationcausing said pin to travel on a downwardly extending surface of said camwhereby said guide member is lowered into said cut-away portion whereinit is flush with the throat plate, a presser foot having means forconnection to said supporting member in two spaced positionslongitudinally of the line of stitch; a guiding arm pivotally mounted onsaid presser foot and having an end adapted to lie in front of one endof the presser foot; spring means for urging said end of the guiding armtoward said material guiding edge to press the material being sewedthereagainst.

SYLVES'I'ER J. BIRGINAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 814,603 Herman Mar. 6, 19061,047,974 Moore Dec. 24, 1912 1,911,190 Harrison May 30, 1933 1,943,301De Voe Jan. 16, 1934 2,043,735 Carroll et a1 June 9, 1936 2,064,733Conaway Dec. 15, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 347,457 GreatBritain Apr. 30, 1931

